Former Fort Bliss soldier found guilty of murdering 1-year-old; sentenced to life
A former soldier was found guilty of murdering a 1-year-old boy and sentenced to life in prison on Thursday. Marvin Rex Lake, a former soldier from Fort Bliss, has been convicted of murdering 1-year-old Ahren Joshua DeHart and sentenced to life in prison. DeHart was taken to El Paso Children’s Hospital with multiple injuries, including a skull fracture, and was left in the care of Lake while his other children were at school. Lake initially lied about DeHart's injuries, but changed his story several times during his interrogation. He claimed he only caused internal injuries to DeHart, and that his injuries were caused by "several wrestling-style moves". DeHart died on April 16, 2021.
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A former soldier was found guilty of murdering a 1-year-old boy and sentenced to life in prison on Thursday.
Marvin Rex Lake was convicted for the death of 1-year-old Ahren Joshua DeHart.
Fort Bliss officials confirmed Lake is a former U.S. Army solder who was discharged from Fort Bliss and that DeHart's father is currently a soldier in the 1st Armored Division.
Lake's arrest affidavit provided details of what happened to DeHart while in Lake's care.
On April 13, 2021 police officers were called to El Paso Children’s Hospital after DeHart was taken there with multiple injuries, including a skull fracture.
Investigators learned DeHart, as well as another infant and toddler, had been left in the care of Lake while the children's mothers went to work.
During a video call that occurred at 5 p.m. between Lake and the mother of the other children, identified as "witness Schneider," DeHart was seen and appeared to be "in good health and alert, but was crying and fussy." DeHart's mother was shown that video call, stated the affidavit.
About 4 1/2 hours later, Lake called "witness Schneider," saying that DeHart had "rag-dolled" and had vomited a red substance, according to the affidavit.
Just before midnight on April 12 DeHart's mother and "witness Schneider" arrived at Las Lomas apartments and discovered DeHart unresponsive and not breathing properly, stated the affidavit.
DeHart was admitted into the hospital in critical condition and was soon placed on life-support, as his injuries were described by doctors as acute and non-accidental.
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The affidavit listed the boy's injuries as brain damage, a skull fracture, hemorrhaging of the lung, abdominal injuries and bruising.
DeHart died from his injuries on April 16, 2021.
During a police interrogation, Lake said he had no idea how DeHart was injured. Lake initially told police investigators DeHart sat on a futon and watched television.
Police investigators documented that Lake changed his story throughout the interview.
In the end of the interview, Lake explained that DeHart's injuries were sustained by "several wrestling-style moves" and at one point slipped from Lake's hand and struck the frame of a futon.
When police investigators confronted Lake about DeHart's other injuries, Lake explained he grabbed DeHart in a football hold tightly after getting upset at DeHart for ripping a pillow, according to the affidavit.
Lake told investigators he had anger issues and didn't realize his own strength.
During a break from the interrogation, Lake called "witness Schneider" on speaker, saying he did not cause DeHart's head injuries, but that he was responsible for the internal injuries.
The day before DeHart was pronounced dead, Lake spoke with police at police headquarters seeking reimbursement for damages to the futon, according to the affidavit.
Lake told police, "I did not hurt his head, I only caused the internal injuries" during the conversation at police headquarters.
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المواضيع: Crime